By: Deborah Ellis
Genre: YFB - General fiction (Children's/Teenage)
Published by: Allen & Unwin
Published: 28 Jan 2015
ISBN: 9781760111977
Description
Fifteen-year-old Farrin has many secrets. Although she goes to a school for gifted girls in Tehran, as the daughter of an aristocratic mother and wealthy father, Farrin must keep a low profile. It is 1988; ever since the Shah was overthrown, the deeply conservative and religious government controls every facet of life in Iran.
If the Revolutionary Guard finds out about her mother's Bring Back the Shah activities, her family could be thrown in jail, or worse. The day she meets Sadira, Farrin's life changes forever.
Sadira is funny, wise, and outgoing; the two girls become inseparable. But as their friendship deepens into romance, the relationship takes a dangerous turn. It is against the law to be gay in Iran; the punishment is death.
Despite their efforts to keep their love secret, the girls are discovered and arrested. Separated from Sadira, Farrin can only pray as she awaits execution. Will her family find a way to save them both?
Review
Deborah Ellis again takes us on a journey into a life, that with her help, we can only begin to understand. That is the life of a 15 year old girl, Farrin, who is growing up in 1988 under an oppressive regime in Iran.
She attends school and does very well. She has wealthy parents and her mother holds ‘bring back the Shah’ meetings which could see them all jailed or killed.
But when Farrin befriends the new girl at school, Sadira, their friendship develops strange feelings and they fall in love. This is unacceptable in Iran and punishable by death.
But could this really happen?
Based on real life events, this is a gripping eye opener that I won’t ruin the end for you.
For our Christian schools, I must say a kiss is shared between the girls, but that is all.
It is a great read and is best suited to those 14+.
